Swim with my children in Lake Michigan, Bike with my wife and children. Sled ride by the river, ski at Hickory Hills. What is spare time? Is time spent with my family spare time? Is it less important than chasing the almighty dollar, mowing the lawn, remodeling the bathroom, reading My Wheels are Turning? Maybe there’s no such thing as spare time, but just time spent living our lives._

2. What was the last activity you participated in at a Traverse City park?

For how active my family is, and for living in Central Neighborhood, you would think we must be at City parks all the time. However, my children are 6 and 8, and swimming, playgrounds, and soccer are their reasons for going to parks. We haven’t been swimming in the bay in over a month, and there are no City parks in or abutting Central Neighborhood with playgrounds. Think about it – no playgrounds in City parks within easy reach of families in Central Neighborhood. So, we are often at Central Grade School, or TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis. But, did you know that these playgrounds were not paid for by TCAPS? These playgrounds were paid for by Parent-Teacher Organizations, with contributions from some companies and charities (see the sign my Central’s playground).

3. Name and describe the most memorable public park, anywhere in the world, that you’ve ever visited?

Yellowstone, over New Years backpacking for a week on x-country skis. As for a city park, Caras Park in Missoula Mt. with a lunch-time concert on a summer weekday. We stopped for several hours on a bike trip from Salt Lake City to Spokane.

4. What is your primary mode of transportation within the City limits?

In non-snow months it is bicycle. In snow months is is a mix of walking and automobile.

5. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most likely, how would you rate your likelihood to increase your use of the following personal transportation methods?

(Answers in Bold & Black)

Unlikely

Likely

Walking

1

2

3

4

5

Riding a bicycle

1

2

3

4

5

Transit

1

2

3

4

5

Calling a Cab

1

2

3

4

5

Driving

1

2

3

4

5

6. In response to question 5, what is your biggest obstacle to more transportation options?

Missing sidewalk sections in the winter. Kids are too young to bicycle safely in the streets when there is snow.

7. Please rate your level of participation in the following Traverse City activities:

Low

High

National Cherry Festival

1

2

3

4

5

Traverse City Film Festival

1

2

3

4

5

Michigan Schooner Fest

1

2

3

4

5

Opera House Events

1

2

3

4

5

TC Microbrew & Music Festival

1

2

3

4

5

8. What are your thoughts about large events, like those in question 7, in Traverse City?

In general I think they are great for Traverse City. I think it is important that they act as responsible “corporate citizens” by paying for any extra costs to the city – such as extra police, street clean up, lawn repair. Maybe even a donation to the city now and then for a specific project or improvement?

9. Define, or give an example of, effective leadership that you have seen in Traverse City?

For me a great example is Becky Mang; with her fantastic leadership by example and engagement in organizing and motivating volunteers for the Safe Harbor homeless shelter.

I fear that we will miss the opportunity to make wise investments in infrastructure (complete streets) now.

_

EDITOR’S NOTE: This November 8th there are 3 commission seats and a mayoral seat on the ballot in Traverse City. To help us prepare, throughout this week we are running responses from the 9 candidates (7 commissioner, 2 mayoral) to the MyWHaT survey. These will run in the order that responses were received, one per day during the week and two each on Saturday and Sunday in the order of Michael Estes, Jim Carruthers, Barbara Budros, Robert Donick, David Ford, Patrick McGuire, Timothy Werner, Ralph Soffredine and Jeanine Easterday (names with embedded link have already been published).

Please note, the answers are published unedited without annotation. The questions were generated by the MyWHaT advisory council and this contributor. We chose a different path than asking straight-up positions on specific policy or issues. We wanted to get a sense of the person, their individual approaches to life, the public sphere and how they might make decisions.

Comments and endorsements are encouraged on any of these posts. You may even ask questions directly of the candidate, but I can not guarantee that they will respond or even see it. I just ask that we keep it friendly, brief and in-line with ourcomments policy.